Show i ome coulp be ipa T HOMES IN VACATION SEASON beauty of the town Is badly marred if they are allowed to show deterioration hall halt the charm of 0 the new eng land towns and villages that every year are drawing more summer resi dents and motor tourists from be yond the hudson surely the better half Is merely a matter of what the old assessors called the home lot arching elms like those of hadley and deerfield lend a beauty that prairie towns cannot duplicate but the aesthetic value even of a shade tree varies with what it shades if its shadows move on open windows and green close shaven lawns that is one thing if they fall on broken fence and tangled weeds eeds the tree itself is little noted width of street ample space between the houses efficient lighting systems these all are needed tor for a pleasing village or a pleasing city yard they only in crease the disappointment it if the door yard show neglect all the more pity that in cone quence of the steadily growing vaca tion habit the very roadways that should most delight the visitors with trimly kept lawn and cleanly swept walk with clipped hedge and well vell ordered flower border now repel his eye and quicken the pace that should be slowed tor for leisurely enjoyment every second or third house is closed the shutters are folded in upon the windows the approaches are dusty and littered the lawn is gray with drought or degenerate with weeds and tall grass A very little of such desolation blights the cheer and fresh ness as a dead branch blights the grace and lightness of a living tree boston globe SPLENDID LIGHT FOR CITY kansas city newspaper thinks highly of method of illumination re bently installed there A new system of street lighting haa has appeared on the south side and it ap patently parent ly solves the problem of orna mental illumination tor for residence streets the lights have been placed on oak street and lead into the coun try club district by way of Bro brookside boulevard to broadway and hunting ton road A lamppost that should be ornamental by day as well as by night was the purpose of the designer the post is of iron bronze about 12 feet high slender and graceful in line the shaft lo 10 1 fluted and the globe Is of ground glass 12 inches in di ameter electric lights are used and milk white globes cauce an unusually effective illumination the first cost of the complete Is little more than that of the ordinary street lamppost but there Is no comparison in effect day or night kansas city star newspapers best for theaters david belasco one of america americas s greatest theatrical managers andalay and play rights in speaking of the various ad ver mediums recently said that he had found that the best results were to be secured from newspaper adver they are he declares the most direct means for reaching the in mr belasco continues it if a man and his wife suddenly decide after dinner to attend the thea ter they do not rush out on the street and scan the b ll Il boards tor for halt a mile milt they refer to the amusement column of today s paper if they can not fir fit d it they hunt up yesterday s so this column is a standing guide to the theater goers under present condi eions I 1 am convinced that the daily newspaper carries stronger influence and secures better results all of which is sound common sense and ansill be endorsed by thousands of business men who appeal to the public through advertising value of parks public parks are important factors I 1 in promoting the health happiness hap pines and general well being of all the peo pie but more particularly tho those thoe e liv ing in 1 crowded parts of cities park parks also bring all in closer touch with nature encourage outdoor sports and recreations giving exercise and pur pure air to the lungs of tired factory work ers and those of sedentary habits people who are always glad of 8 chance to spend a day amid restful scenes and under conditions of ease and comfort tired wives and moth ers children of all classes without distinction all meet on common ground in public parks where there are equal rights for all special leges for none C ties W th civic pride conspicuous among the cities which are now brushing up or planning it are san francisco portland ore minneapolis seattle and chicago while many towns of smaller size like cedar rapids la ia are also in the movement the western cities are al most making a race of this work and the city beautifiers flers as the architects who ha have ve taken up this work may be called are overcrowded with work the profession has more than it can do and there Is room in it for many more clever men with ample financial reward and lasting civic fame foi fol their recompense |